We were pretty close. Maybe about 10 m? This river is famous for salmon and ...bears! They are so content fishing that often fishermen and bears are standing side by side. I've got a great picture of my friend fishing with the bears.

Except for the BBC nature series, only once have I seen such a scene! The otter (Slovak) was much smaller though and didn't sport that cunning, brazen look. All the features of the animal in your picture, including a snub nose, make me suspect it might be a trained Russian spying critter heading towards the US.